May 28,2010

MORETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

May 28, 2010

School Website:  www.moretownschool.org

 

Dear Parents and Friends,

 

As we approach the end of my first year at Moretown, we are embarking on significant changes within our school. According to educational researcher, Larry Lezotte (2005), “Schools are either improving or declining; they cannot maintain the status quo.” Ours is one of the very best schools in the state, but we won’t rest on our laurels. We choose to keep improving.

 

This year we created a new Educational Support Team. This team serves as a resource to teachers when a student is struggling with learning or behavior – a think tank, of sorts. It’s been a positive process. We’ve shared ideas, strategies, interventions and supports for many students this year. It is our expectation that, by intervening early and by improving the effectiveness of our team process, we will significantly reduce the number of students who require long term Educational Support or 117 Plans. I’d like to thank Kathi Orr, Patty Riccardi, Sara Baker, and Deb Fadden for all of their hard work.

 

Always striving to improve student learning, we are making changes in our classroom schedules next year. We are moving toward 90 minute math and literacy blocks. This will better allow teachers to meet the needs of all students within the classroom setting. It will also help us to reduce individual tutorials outside of the classroom. Currently the instructional block is one hour. The additional thirty minutes will allow teachers to target and work with small groups of students who need additional time and instruction, a little extra practice, or enrichment for those who would benefit from “stretching”.

 

Change is never easy, but I am confident we are doing what is right by kids!

 

 

Respectfully,

                                                                                    Debbie Lesure, Principal

 

 

  Coffee With the Principal

 

  An open dialogue time for parents to ask questions

  and share ideas!

 

  Thursday, June 3, 8:15 in the Multipurpose Room – Please

  RSVP to Pam Kathan at 496-3742

 

 

 

“It Takes A Village”

 

Dear Moretown Parents,

 

This spring we are working as a school community to define a “vision” for our school. In education a school’s vision is the “big picture” of how we as a community would ideally like our school to be, what the curriculums would entail (both academic and social), what the school’s climate might feel like and what the relationships might look like that exist within the school’s population (students, teachers, staff, parents, community members).

 

To truly give this document meaning we invite your thoughtful reflection on each of the following sections. Your responses will be considered as we draft our school’s vision. Thank you for taking the time to respond to our survey. – Moretown Staff

 

Please feel free to also write on the other side of page if needed!

 

What should we keep doing (what are our strengths?):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What should we start doing (any new innovative ideas?):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What should we stop doing (what are our weaknesses?):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any additional comments?:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turn the page to …. Jacquelyn Moreno!

 

What do you like about being a library page?

I really like checking books in and out.  I like it because my mom used to do it and now I know how and I can check out my own books.

 

Favorite authors and books?

Rick Riordan, Suzanne Collins, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Anthony Horowitz, Trenton Lee Stewart, Jennifer Allison, and the 39 Clues series.

 

Claim to fame:

Jacquelyn read all 30 books on the 2009-10 DCF Master List!

 

 

 

Dear Families,

May 27th is the last day for students to check out or renew library books.

Please help your child locate and return their library books before summer vacation.  If you have any questions or are unable to locate a missing book, please let me know.

 

The library will be having it's used book sale through June 3rd.  All books will be priced to sell ... no more than 25 cents each!  All proceeds will go toward purchasing new library books.  The sale is organized by the 6th grade Student Library Advisory Board.  Thank you for your support.

 

 

Sincerely,

Mrs. Allison

School Librarian

mallison@moretownschool.org

 

Step up day is June 2nd and all 6th grade students should ride their morning bus to HU.  Students will tour the school, meet middle school teachers and have lunch at the school.  Students will then board buses at 11:30 and return to their elementary school to finish their day.    

Important Dates May 31                        Memorial Day, NO SCHOOL June 1, 2                      Preschool Field trip to Shelburne Farms June 2                          Kindergarten Night, 6:30 – 7:30 June 2                          6th grade step up to Harwood June 3, 4                      6th Grade trip to Boston June 4                          No School for KINDERGARTEN CLASS ONLY June 4                          Kindergarten Open House for next year’s Kindergarten students June 7                          Teacher Appreciation Breakfast June 8                          Field Day activities June 8                          Preschool Performance, 6:30 pm June 10                        K-5 Step Up Day June 11                        Last day of school – FULL DAY June 11                        6th Grade graduation                         May 31                        NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day June 11                        Last day of school – FULL DAY June 11                        Sixth Grade Graduation – 6:00 P.M.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staff Appreciation Breakfast

Let the great people at the Moretown School know how much you appreciate all they have done for our students this past year! Each year, the Moretown Elementary School’s PTN coordinates a Staff Appreciation Breakfast for our teachers, paraeducators and staff members. On Monday June 7 from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m we will hold our annual appreciation event in the school library.

Show that you care by contributing either an item for the breakfast, or helping out with set up and/or clean-up. Please contact Amy Bolger if you can provide a goodie (baked item, fruit, a beverage, etc.) We also need plates, napkins, cutlery or cups. Two people to set up at 7 a.m. and two to break down at 9:30 a.m. is helpful.

You can call Amy at 496-5935 or email her at bolger@gmavt.net. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this important end-of-year event.

 

Valley School Day at Sugarbush

Friday, June 25th is Valley School Day at Sugarbush. School-age kids are invited to come sample zipline rides, chairlift rides, disc golf, the inflatable bounce house, golf, tennis, and pool activities FOR FREE. Parental guidance required. Details at sugarbush.com.

 

 

Alligator Summer Camps at Moretown School

We are happy to be able to once again offer summer Theater and Science Camps at Moretown School.   Theater Camp will run from July 19 to July 23, 9 am to 1 pm.  Science camps will be July 26 to July 30 and August 2 to August 6, 9 am to 1 pm.  Science camps will be structured so that each week is different, so children may attend one or both camps.  Camp fees are $150 per week for Theater Camp and $160 per week for Science Camps (Science Camp fee includes cost of materials).  Discounts available for multiple Camps are open to ages 7 to 14.  Camp instructors include Thom McAllister (Mr. Alligator) and Deb Fadden (Ms D.)  For additional information and registration forms contact Thom McAllister (thommca@gmavt.net or 434-4977).  Registration open until all slots are filled.

 

Summer Fun at Camp Sugarbush

This summer, Sugarbush is offering a variety of week-long Monday through Friday camps for kids interested in outdoor adventure:

 

Mini Campers (ages 4-6) and Day Camp (ages 6-11) provide campers a traditional day camp with a touch of adventure. Activities include lift rides, hiking, swimming, tennis, rock climbing, biking, art, nature crafts, field trips and more. June 21-August 20.

 

Adventure Camp (ages 7-17) activities include biking, zipline, hiking, naturalist tours, disc golf, swimming, and climbing. July 5-9; July 26-30; August 9-13; August 16-20.

 

Mountain Bike Adventure Camps (ages 7-17) are similar to the Adventure Camps but with an emphasis on mountain biking. July 19-23 and August 2-6.

 

And the Junior USPTA/USPTR Tennis Camp (ages 6-12) offers tennis in the morning followed by afternoon adventures. August 2-6.

 

Both Adventure Camp and Mountain Bike Adventure Camp offer an optional Thursday overnight adventure at Allyn’s Lodge. Single-day, multiday and weekend tennis, golf, tennis/golf combo, adventure, and mountain bike camps, clinics and schools also available. For reservations and more information, call 800.53.SUGAR or visit sugarbush.com. Register by April 17 and receive a discount.

 

Mad River Soccer Volunteer Needs

 

We are looking for a number of parents to pass the torch to for some important Mad River Soccer positions for the Spring Travel Program. The Spring Travel program includes the towns of  Duxbury, Fayston, Moretown, Waitsfield, Warren and Waterbury. Getting involved with Mad River Soccer gives you the opportunity to get to know parents and kids beyond your own town and give back to your community. Training will be provided.  Contact Anne Greshin (greshin@madriver.com).

 

Spring Coordinator . Responsible for managing the Spring Travel Program including recruiting coaches, managing tryouts, scheduling of home games, preparing team announcement letters and being communication link between coaches and league.  (Timing is September thru June, with bulk of activity in October and March thru May.)

 

Spring Registrar.  Responsible for ensuring that all players and coaches are registered with the Vermont Soccer Association in a timely way and that coaches receive player passes for their team. (Timing is September thru June, with bulk of activity in October and Jan. thru March).

 

Spring Fields Czar.   Set the lines for the fields. This is a one time task that is done about a week before the season begins, usually the last week in April.  Other volunteers are available to help.

 

Volunteer Recruiter.  Help recruit people for special projects such as pre-season set up or post season take-down, field line maintenance and the positions above.

 

MORETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

MAY 28, 2010

School Website: www.moretownschool.org

Dear Parents and Friends,

As we approach the end of my first year at Moretown, we are embarking on significant changes within our school. According to educational researcher, Larry Lezotte (2005), “Schools are either improving or declining; they cannot maintain the status quo.” Ours is one of the very best schools in the state, but we won’t rest on our laurels. We choose to keep improving.

This year we created a new Educational Support Team. This team serves as a resource to teachers when a student is struggling with learning or behavior – a think tank, of sorts. It’s been a positive process. We’ve shared ideas, strategies, interventions and supports for many students this year. It is our expectation that, by intervening early and by improving the effectiveness of our team process, we will significantly reduce the number of students who require long term Educational Support or 117 Plans. I’d like to thank Kathi Orr, Patty Riccardi, Sara Baker, and Deb Fadden for all of their hard work.

Always striving to improve student learning, we are making changes in our classroom schedules next year. We are moving toward 90 minute math and literacy blocks. This will better allow teachers to meet the needs of all students within the classroom setting. It will also help us to reduce individual tutorials outside of the classroom. Currently the instructional block is one hour. The additional thirty minutes will allow teachers to target and work with small groups of students who need additional time and instruction, a little extra practice, or enrichment for those who would benefit from “stretching”.

Change is never easy, but I am confident we are doing what is right by kids!

Respectfully,

Debbie Lesure, Principal

Coffee With the Principal

An open dialogue time for parents to ask questions

and share ideas!

Thursday, June 3, 8:15 in the Multipurpose Room – Please

RSVP to Pam Kathan at 496-3742

“It Takes A Village”

Dear Moretown Parents,

This spring we are working as a school community to define a “vision” for our school. In education a school’s vision is the “big picture” of how we as a community would ideally like our school to be, what the curriculums would entail (both academic and social), what the school’s climate might feel like and what the relationships might look like that exist within the school’s population (students, teachers, staff, parents, community members).

To truly give this document meaning we invite your thoughtful reflection on each of the following sections. Your responses will be considered as we draft our school’s vision. Thank you for taking the time to respond to our survey. – Moretown Staff

Please feel free to also write on the other side of page if needed!

What should we keep doing (what are our strengths?):

What should we start doing (any new innovative ideas?):

What should we stop doing (what are our weaknesses?):

Any additional comments?:

Turn the page to …. Jacquelyn Moreno!

What do you like about being a library page?

I really like checking books in and out. I like it because my mom used to do it and now I know how and I can check out my own books.

Favorite authors and books?

Rick Riordan, Suzanne Collins, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Anthony Horowitz, Trenton Lee Stewart, Jennifer Allison, and the 39 Clues series.

Claim to fame:

Jacquelyn read all 30 books on the 2009-10 DCF Master List!

Dear Families,

May 27th is the last day for students to check out or renew library books.

Please help your child locate and return their library books before summer vacation. If you have any questions or are unable to locate a missing book, please let me know.

The library will be having it's used book sale through June 3rd. All books will be priced to sell ... no more than 25 cents each! All proceeds will go toward purchasing new library books. The sale is organized by the 6th grade Student Library Advisory Board. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Allison

School Librarian

mallison@moretownschool.org

Step up day is June 2nd and all 6th grade students should ride their morning bus to HU. Students will tour the school, meet middle school teachers and have lunch at the school. Students will then board buses at 11:30 and return to their elementary school to finish their day.

Important Dates

May 31 Memorial Day, NO SCHOOL

June 1, 2 Preschool Field trip to Shelburne Farms

June 2 Kindergarten Night, 6:30 – 7:30

June 2 6th grade step up to Harwood

June 3, 4 6th Grade trip to Boston

June 4 No School for KINDERGARTEN CLASS ONLY

June 4 Kindergarten Open House for next year’s Kindergarten students

June 7 Teacher Appreciation Breakfast

June 8 Field Day activities

June 8 Preschool Performance, 6:30 pm

June 10 K-5 Step Up Day

June 11 Last day of school – FULL DAY

June 11 6th Grade graduation

Staff Appreciation Breakfast

Let the great people at the Moretown School know how much you appreciate all they have done for our students this past year! Each year, the Moretown Elementary School’s PTN coordinates a Staff Appreciation Breakfast for our teachers, paraeducators and staff members. On Monday June 7 from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m we will hold our annual appreciation event in the school library. Show that you care by contributing either an item for the breakfast, or helping out with set up and/or clean-up. Please contact Amy Bolger if you can provide a goodie (baked item, fruit, a beverage, etc.) We also need plates, napkins, cutlery or cups. Two people to set up at 7 a.m. and two to break down at 9:30 a.m. is helpful. You can call Amy at 496-5935 or email her at bolger@gmavt.net. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this important end-of-year event.

 

Valley School Day at Sugarbush

 

Friday, June 25th is Valley School Day at Sugarbush. School-age kids are invited to come sample zipline rides, chairlift rides, disc golf, the inflatable bounce house, golf, tennis, and pool activities FOR FREE. Parental guidance required. Details at sugarbush.com.

 

Alligator Summer Camps at Moretown School

We are happy to be able to once again offer summer Theater and Science Camps at Moretown School. Theater Camp will run from July 19 to July 23, 9 am to 1 pm. Science camps will be July 26 to July 30 and August 2 to August 6, 9 am to 1 pm. Science camps will be structured so that each week is different, so children may attend one or both camps. Camp fees are $150 per week for Theater Camp and $160 per week for Science Camps (Science Camp fee includes cost of materials). Discounts available for multiple Camps are open to ages 7 to 14. Camp instructors include Thom McAllister (Mr. Alligator) and Deb Fadden (Ms D.) For additional information and registration forms contact Thom McAllister (thommca@gmavt.net or 434-4977). Registration open until all slots are filled.

Summer Fun at Camp Sugarbush

This summer, Sugarbush is offering a variety of week-long Monday through Friday camps for kids interested in outdoor adventure:

Mini Campers (ages 4-6) and Day Camp (ages 6-11) provide campers a traditional day camp with a touch of adventure. Activities include lift rides, hiking, swimming, tennis, rock climbing, biking, art, nature crafts, field trips and more. June 21-August 20.

Adventure Camp (ages 7-17) activities include biking, zipline, hiking, naturalist tours, disc golf, swimming, and climbing. July 5-9; July 26-30; August 9-13; August 16-20.

Mountain Bike Adventure Camps (ages 7-17) are similar to the Adventure Camps but with an emphasis on mountain biking. July 19-23 and August 2-6.

And the Junior USPTA/USPTR Tennis Camp (ages 6-12) offers tennis in the morning followed by afternoon adventures. August 2-6.

Both Adventure Camp and Mountain Bike Adventure Camp offer an optional Thursday overnight adventure at Allyn’s Lodge. Single-day, multiday and weekend tennis, golf, tennis/golf combo, adventure, and mountain bike camps, clinics and schools also available. For reservations and more information, call 800.53.SUGAR or visit sugarbush.com. Register by April 17 and receive a discount.

Mad River Soccer Volunteer Needs

We are looking for a number of parents to pass the torch to for some important Mad River Soccer positions for the Spring Travel Program. The Spring Travel program includes the towns of Duxbury, Fayston, Moretown, Waitsfield, Warren and Waterbury. Getting involved with Mad River Soccer gives you the opportunity to get to know parents and kids beyond your own town and give back to your community. Training will be provided. Contact Anne Greshin (greshin@madriver.com).

Spring Coordinator . Responsible for managing the Spring Travel Program including recruiting coaches, managing tryouts, scheduling of home games, preparing team announcement letters and being communication link between coaches and league. (Timing is September thru June, with bulk of activity in October and March thru May.)

Spring Registrar. Responsible for ensuring that all players and coaches are registered with the Vermont Soccer Association in a timely way and that coaches receive player passes for their team. (Timing is September thru June, with bulk of activity in October and Jan. thru March).

Spring Fields Czar. Set the lines for the fields. This is a one time task that is done about a week before the season begins, usually the last week in April. Other volunteers are available to help.

Volunteer Recruiter. Help recruit people for special projects such as pre-season set up or post season take-down, field line maintenance and the positions above.